Fringillidae
燕雀科
yàn-què kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

Despite the richness of finch species in China, Chinese is poor in distinctive names. Most are identified as 雀 què, a character meaning 'sparrow' or more broadly a 'small bird'. (In fact, 雀 què is used in some bird names, such as that of the peacock, where the bird is not small and bears no resemblance to a sparrow). Ornithologically, 雀 què has traditionally been identified with the finches, hence the family name 雀科 què kē. However, although 雀科 què kē is still used in Taiwan, the family has been rechristened the 燕雀科 yàn-què kē in China, based on the name of the Brambling.

A number of more distinctive birds have individual names. The crossbills are known quite transparently as 交嘴鸟 jiāo-zuǐ-niǎo 'cross-billed bird' or 交喙鸟 jiāo-huì-niǎo 'cross-billed bird'. The naming of the grosbeaks and hawfinches is somewhat more mysterious. There are two sets of names for these birds:

• Names pronounced xi, almost exclusively used for the Hawfinch: 锡嘴 xī-zuǐ 'tin-bill', with popular names such as 老锡儿 lǎo xīr 'old tin', 老西子 lǎo xīzi 'old west', and 老醯儿 lǎo xīr 'old pickle-vinegar'.
• Names pronouced la, used for both the Hawfinch and the grosbeaks: 蜡嘴 là-zuǐ 'wax-bill' (in the Mainland official name for the grosbeaks as well popular names for both the Hawfinch and grosbeaks), 腊嘴 là-zuǐ 'cured meat-bill' (used in the Taiwanese name for the Hawfinch), and 蝋嘴 'wax bill' (characters used in Japanese for the Hawfinch, originally borrowed from Chinese -- although simplified differently, 蝋 is the same as 蜡 in the Mainland name 'waxbill').

The Taiwanese name, 腊嘴雀 là-zuǐ-què 'cured-meat-billed sparrow', links these two sets of names together because it actually has two possible pronunciations: là-zuǐ-què and xí-zuǐ-què (or, in the standard Mainland reading, xī-zuǐ-què). The exact relationship among these convoluted names and the characters used to write them is not fully clear.

Regularised names:

The names of the finches have been thoroughly regularised in the official naming, all ending in the character 雀 què. Even where it's possible to omit the 雀 què -- for example, 金翅 jīn-chì 'gold-wing' -- the authority lists prefer to add it for the sake of clarity and completeness.

The relationship of the (Mainland) common names to scientific genera is as follows:

Pyrrhula griseiventris (Oriental Bullfinch) is found in Chinese sources (1, 2, 5, 6), but in Howard and Moore is recognised only as a subspecies of Pyrrhula pyrrhula. Its Chinese name is 灰腹灰雀 huī-tóu huī-què 'grey-bellied grey-sparrow'.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

FRINGILLINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Fringilla                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch 苍头燕雀 (蒼頭燕雀) cāng-tóu yàn-què 'darkblue-headed swallow-sparrow'     ズアオアトリ (頭青花鶏) zu-ao atori 'blue/green-headed brambling'   Chim sẻ khướư 'babbler sparrow bird' (from general dictionary) Дуулгат бужирга duulagt bujirag 'steel-helmeted bujirag' Former official: Дуулгат ээрүүл бялзуухай duulagt eerüül byalzuukhai 'steel-helmeted spindle finch' Fringilla montifringilla Brambling 燕雀 (燕雀) yàn-què 'swallow-sparrow' (花雀) 花雀 huā-què 'flowery sparrow' 花鸡 (花雞) huā-jī 'flowery fowl/chicken' 燕雀儿 (燕雀兒) yàn-qiǎor 'swallow-sparrow' 虎皮雀 (虎皮雀) hǔ-pí què 'tiger-skin sparrow' アトリ (花鶏 ~ 猲子鳥) atori 'brambling' (characters: 1. 'flower fowl/chicken', from Chinese; 2. from Chinese, original unclear) 되새 doe-sae 'doe bird' Chim Sẻ đồng đầu đen 'black-headed field-sparrow (bird)' (= 'black-headed bunting') Chim Sẻ thông đầu đen 'black-headed pine-sparrow (bird)' (13) Taxonomy Алаг бужирга alag bujirag 'motley bujirag' Former official: Алаг хуухуур бялзуухай alag khuukhuur byalzuukhai 'motley khuukhuur finch'

CARDUELINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Serinus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Serinus pusillus Red-fronted serin Fire-fronted serin Gold-fronted serin 金额丝雀 (金額絲雀) jīn-é sī-què 'gold-foreheaded silk-sparrow'     ベニビタイセリン (紅額セリン) beni-bitai serin 'red-foreheaded serin' (serin from the English)       Serinus serinus European serin Serin 欧洲丝雀 (歐洲絲雀) ōuzhōu sī-què 'European silk-sparrow' (4) 金丝雀 (金絲雀) jīn sī-què 'golden silk-sparrow' (5) (introduced)     セリン serin 'serin' (serin from the English)       Serinus thibetanus Carduelis thibetana Tibetan siskin Tibetan serin 藏黄雀 (藏黃雀) zàng huáng-què 'Tibetan yellow-sparrow'     チベットヒワ (チベット鶸) chibetto hiwa 'Tibetan siskin'       Serinus mozambicus Yellow-fronted canary 黄额丝雀 (黃額絲雀) huáng-é sī-què 'yellow-foreheaded silk-sparrow' (4, 5) (introduced)     キビタイセイオウチョウ (黄額青黄鳥) ki-bitai seiō-chō 'yellow-foreheaded blue'green-yellow bird'       Carduelis                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Carduelis chloris European greenfinch Western greenfinch 欧金翅雀 (歐金翅雀) ōu jīn-chì-què 'European gold-wing sparrow' (2, 4) 绿金翅 (綠金翅) lǜ jīn-chì 'green gold-wing' (1) 金翅 (金翅) jīn-chì 'gold-wing' (5)     アオカワラヒワ (青河原鶸) ao kawara hiwa 'blue/green riverbed siskin'       Carduelis sinica Chloris sinica Oriental greenfinch Grey-capped greenfinch Greenfinch Chinese greenfinch 金翅雀 (金翅雀) jīn-chì-què 'gold-wing sparrow' (1, 2, 3, 4) or 金翅 (金翅) jīn-chì 'gold-wing' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5) Name 东方金翅 (東方金翅) dōngfāng jīn-chì 'eastern gold-wing' (5) (金翅雀) 金翅雀 jīn-chì-què 'gold-wing sparrow' 金翅儿 (金翅兒) jīn-chèr 'gold-wing' 东方金翅鸟 (東方金翅鳥) dōng-fāng jīn-chì-niǎo 'oriental gold-wing bird' 绿雀 (綠雀) lǜ què 'green sparrow' 芦花黄雀 (蘆花黃雀) lú-huā huáng-què 'reed catkin yellow-sparrow' (also C. spinus below) 黄楠雀 (黄楠雀) huáng nán què 'yellow nan [type of tree] sparrow' 黄翎子 (黄翎子) huáng língzi 'yellow feather' カワラヒワ (河原鶸) kawara hiwa 'river-bed siskin' 방울새 bangul-sae 'bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid') Chim Sẻ thông đầu xám 'grey-headed pine-sparrow (bird)' (13) Нангиад ногоолдой naŋgiad nogooldoi 'sticky ? nogooldoi' Former official: Нангиад алтан жигүүр naŋgiad altaŋ jigüür 'sticky ? golden wing' Carduelis spinoides Yellow-breasted greenfinch Black-headed greenfinch Himalayan greenfinch 高山金翅雀 (高山金翅雀) gāo-shān jīn-chì-què 'high mountain gold-wing sparrow' (1, 2, 3, 4) 高山金翅 (高山金翅) gāo-shān jīn-chì 'high mountain gold-wing' (5. Alternative in 1, 3)     キバラカワラヒワ (黄腹河原鶸) ki-bara kawara hiwa 'yellow-bellied river-bed siskin'       Carduelis ambigua Black-headed greenfinch Yunnan greenfinch Oustalet's Black-headed Greenfinch 黑头金翅雀 (黑頭金翅雀) hēi-tóu jīn-chì-què 'black-headed gold-wing sparrow' (1, 2, 3, 4) 黑头金翅 (黑頭金翅) hēi-tóu jīn-chì 'black-headed gold-wing' (5. Alternative in 1, 3)     ズグロカワラヒワ (頭黒河原鶸) zu-guro kawara hiwa 'black-headed river-bed siskin'   Chim Sẻ thông đầu đen 'black-headed pine-sparrow (bird)' Chim Sẻ đồng đầu đen 'black-headed field-sparrow' (='black-headed bunting') (13) Taxonomy   Carduelis spinus Spinus spinus Eurasian siskin Spruce siskin Siskin 黄雀 (黃雀) huáng-què 'yellow-sparrow' (黄雀) 黄雀 huáng-què 'yellow-sparrow' 黄鸟 (黃鳥) huáng-niǎo 'yellow bird' (also used for Oriolus chinensis) 芦花黄雀 (蘆花黃雀) lú-huā huáng-què 'reed catkin yellow-sparrow' (also C. sinica above) マヒワ (真鶸) ma-hiwa 'true siskin' 검은머리방울새 geomeun-meori-bangul-sae 'black-headed bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid') Chim Sẻ thông Siskim 'siskin pine-sparrow (bird)' (13) Эгэл ногоолзой egel nogoolzoi 'common nogoolzoi' Former official: Ногоолзой nogoolzoi 'nogoolzoi' Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Carduelis carduelis European goldfinch Eurasian goldfinch Goldfinch Eurasian goldenfinch 红额金翅雀 (紅額金翅雀) hóng-é jīn-chì-què 'red-foreheaded gold-wing sparrow' (1, 2, 3, 4) 红额金翅 (紅額金翅) hóng-é jīn-chì 'red-foreheaded gold-wing' (5. Alternative in 1, 3)   红头金翅 (紅頭金翅) hóng-tóu jīn-chì 'red-headed gold-wing' ゴシキヒワ (五色鶸) go-shiki hiwa 'five-coloured siskin'     Бор бужиранга bor bujirang 'brown bujirnag' Former official: Бор бужирга bor bujirag 'brown bujirag' Carduelis carduelis caniceps: Буурал бужиранга buural bujirang 'greyish bujirnag' Former official: Буурал бужирга buural bujirag 'greyish bujirag' Carduelis flammea Acanthis flammea Common redpoll Redpoll 白腰朱顶雀 (白腰朱頂雀) bái-yāo zhū-dǐng-què 'white-rumped vermilion-capped sparrow' (普通朱顶雀) 普通朱頂雀 pǔtōng zhū-dǐng-què 'common vermilion-capped sparrow' 朱顶雀 (朱頂雀) zhū-dǐng-què 'vermilion-capped sparrow' 贮点红 (貯點紅) zhù diǎn hóng '(literally) save-a-bit red' ベニヒワ (紅鶸) beni hiwa 'red siskin' 홍방울새 hong-bangul-sae 'red bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')   Дөлөн цэгцүүхэй dölön tsegtsüükhei 'flame tsegtsüükhei' Former official: Улаан толгойт бужирга ulaaŋ tolgoit bujirag 'red-headed bujirag' Carduelis hornemanni Acanthis hornemanni Hoary redpoll Arctic redpoll 极北朱顶雀 (北極朱頂雀) jí běi zhū-dǐng-què 'far north vermilion-capped sparrow'     コベニヒワ (小紅鶸) ko beni hiwa 'small red siskin' 쇠홍방울새 soe-hong-bangul-sae 'small red bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')   Шунхан цэгцүүхэй shuŋkhan tsegtsüükhei 'lipstick? tsegtsüükhei' Former official: Шунхан зулайт бужирга shuŋkhan zulait bujirag 'red-headed bujirag' Carduelis flavirostris Acanthis flavirostris Twite 黄嘴朱顶雀 (黃嘴朱頂雀) huáng-zuǐ zhū-dǐng-què 'yellow-billed vermilion-capped sparrow'     キバシヒワ (黄嘴鶸) ki-bashi hiwa 'yellow-billed siskin'     Улаан цэгцүүхэй ulaaŋ tsegtsüükhei 'red tsegtsüükhei' Former official: Улаан бор бужирга ulaaŋ bor bujirag 'red brown bujirag' Carduelis cannabina Acanthis cannabinus Common linnet Eurasian linnet Linnet 赤胸朱顶雀 (赤胸朱頂雀) chì-xiōng zhū-dǐng-què 'red-breasted vermilion-capped sparrow'     ムネアカヒワ (胸赤鶸) mune-aka hiwa 'red-breasted siskin'     Алтан цэгцүүхэй altaŋ tsegtsüükhei 'golden tsegtsüükhei' Leucosticte                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Leucosticte nemoricola Plain mountain finch Hodgson's rosy finch Hodgson's mountain finch 林岭雀 (林嶺雀) lín lǐng-què 'forest mountain-ridge sparrow'     ハイイロマシコ (灰色猿子) hai-iro mashiko 'grey rosefinch'     Хималайн зангалай himalaiŋ zaŋgalai 'Himalayan zangalai' Former official: Хималайн цахир бужирга himalaiŋ tsakhir bujirag 'Himalayan nail-fleck bujirag' Leucosticte brandti Brandt's mountain finch Brandt's rosy finch 高山岭雀 (高山嶺雀) gāo-shān lǐng-què 'high mountain mountain-ridge sparrow'     シンジュマシコ (真珠猿子) shinju mashiko 'pearl rosefinch'     Арцны зангалай artsni zaŋgalai 'juniper zangalai' Former official: Цахир бужирга tsakhir bujirag 'nail-fleck bujirag' Leucosticte sillemi Sillem's mountain finch Sillem's rosy finch Tawny-headed mountain finch 褐头岭雀 (褐頭嶺雀) hè-tóu lǐng-què 'brown-headed mountain-ridge sparrow' (2, 3, 4) 桂红头岭雀 (桂紅頭嶺雀) guì hóng-tóu lǐng-què 'laurel red-headed mountain-ridge sparrow' (1, 5)     チベットマシコ (チベット猿子) chibetto mashiko 'Tibet rosefinch' (Wikipedia)       Leucosticte arctoa Asian rosy finch Rosy mountain finch White-winged mountain finch 粉红腹岭雀 (粉紅腹嶺雀) fěn-hóng-fù lǐng-què 'pink-bellied mountain-ridge sparrow'   北岭雀 (北嶺雀) běi lǐng-què 'northern mountain-ridge sparrow' (6) 白翅岭雀 (白翅嶺雀) bái-chì lǐng-què 'white-winged mountain-ridge sparrow' ハギマシコ (萩猿子) hagi mashiko 'bush-clover rosefinch' 갈색양진이 gal-saeg-yangjini 'brown-coloured rosefinch'   Занхгар зангалай zaŋkhgar zaŋgalai 'large-headed zangalai' Former official: Бухин дух бужирга bukhiŋ dukh bujirag 'bukhin foreheaded bujirag' Rhodopechys                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Rhodopechys sanguineus Rhodopechys sanguinea Crimson-winged finch Crimson-winged desert finch 红翅沙雀 (紅翅沙雀) hóng-chì shā-què 'red-winged sand-sparrow' (2, 4) 赤翅沙雀 (赤翅沙雀) chì-chì shā-què 'red-winged sand-sparrow' (1, 3, 5)   粉红翅 (粉紅翅) fěn-hóng-chì 'pink wing' ベニバネナキマシコ (紅羽鳴き猿子) beni-bane naki-mashiko 'red-winged crying-rosefinch'       Bucanetes                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Bucanetes mongolicus Rhodopechys mongolica Mongolian finch Mongolian trumpeter finch Mongolian desert finch Trumpeter desert finch 蒙古沙雀 (蒙古沙雀) měnggǔ shā-què 'Mongolian sand-sparrow'   漠雀 (漠雀) mò-què 'desert-sparrow' (6) Taxonomy 沙雀 (沙雀) shā-què 'sand-sparrow' 四色 (四色) sì-sè 'four colour' 土红子 (土紅子) tǔ-hóngzi 'earth red' モウコナキマシコ (蒙古鳴き猿子) mōko naki-mashiko 'Mongolian crying-rosefinch'     Монгол алтанжигүүр mongol altaŋ-jigüür 'Mongolian golden wing' Former official: Монгол алтан жигүүр mongol altaŋ jigüür 'Mongolian golden wing' Rhodospiza                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Rhodospiza obsoleta Rhodopechys obsoleta Desert finch Lichtenstein's desert finch 巨嘴沙雀 (巨嘴沙雀) jù-zuǐ shā-què 'giant-billed sand-sparrow'   乌嘴 (烏嘴) wū-zuǐ 'crow/black bill' ハシグロナキマシコ (嘴黒鳴き猿子) hashi-guro naki-mashiko 'black-billed crying-rosefinch'       Uragus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Uragus sibiricus Long-tailed rosefinch 长尾雀 (長尾雀) cháng-wěi què 'long-tailed sparrow'     ベニマシコ (紅猿子) beni mashiko 'red rosefinch' 긴꼬리홍양진이 gin-kkori-hong-yangjini 'long-tailed red rosefinch'   Үүрэн сүүлтзана üüreŋ süült-zan 'üüren tailed bullfinch' Former official: Үүрэн сүүлт зана üüreŋ süült zan 'üüren tailed bullfinch'

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Fringillidae 2